Xavier University Athletics
Six Musketeers Earn All-BIG EAST; Nate Lie's Staff Named Coaching Staff of the Year
11.01.23 | Women's Soccer
Bain, Galley, Reed, Rogers, Wiehe and Vargas named to all-conference squads
NEW YORK – After winning a share of the BIG EAST Championship, Xavier women's soccer had six Musketeers earn All-BIG EAST honors, as voted on by the league coaches. Xavier's coaching staff, led by head coach Nate Lie, was also named the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
Among Xavier's honorees are Natalie Bain, who earned First Team honors. Maria Galley, Maddie Reed, Ella Rogers and Samantha Wiehe were named to the Second Team, while Sonia Vargas earned Third Team All-BIG EAST.
Head coach Nate Lie's coaching staff, including associate head coaches Katy Etelman and Tyler Smaha, director of goalkeeping Jacob Morrison, director of player performance Matt Tennyson, and athletic trainer Jordan Johnson, led Xavier to a share BIG EAST regular season title, wrapping up a second-straight unbeaten regular season conference slate at 6-0-4.
With the title, the program's second in the last three years, the Musketeers, who were picked No. 2 in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, enter the league tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Musketeers enter the post season at 13-2-4 overall, and have spent most of the 2023 season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, currently ranking No. 17.
Xavier currently stands at No. 22 in the RPI and came in at No. 13 in the NCAA Soccer Committee's Top 16 Midseason Ranking, looking for a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship.
Natalie Bain, a sophomore defender from Alexandria, Ky., was named to the First Team after playing a team-high 897 minutes on the Xavier back line in conference play, making all 10 starts and playing all but three minutes of BIG EAST action as the Musketeers posted an unbeaten record in conference play.
Overall, Bain has appeared in 17 matches, starting in each, totaling 1480 minutes for the Xavier defense which only allowed eight goals on the season. The Musketeers enter the postseason with a team GAA of 0.421 for the season, best in the BIG EAST and sixth in NCAA DI. The Musketeers lead the BIG EAST with 12 shutouts, with a shutout percentage of 0.632 to lead the conference, ranking 10th in the country.
In BIG EAST play, the Musketeer defense has only allowed two goals, posting a team GAA of 0.20, both marks that lead the conference. Xavier has eight shutouts in 10 conference matches, including picking up clean sheets in the last six games of the regular season.
This is Bain's second All-Conference nomination of her career, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Freshman honors in 2022. She was also selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad. Bain was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (9/25, 10/23).
Maria Galley, a sophomore goalkeeper from South Windsor, Conn., earned Second Team honors after posting a goals against average of 0.43 overall, which ranks sixth in NCAA DI. In BIG EAST matches, Galley has a GAA of 0.20, the best mark in the conference after only allowing two goals in 10 BIG EAST matches.
Galley has 11 complete shutouts on the season, as well as a part of a combined shutout. The 11 clean sheets, which matches the school record for a single season, are the most in the BIG EAST and third most in NCAA DI. She has seven shutouts in BIG EAST play, leading the conference.
This is Galley's second time earning All-BIG EAST Second Team, also earning the honor as a freshman, as well as a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Galley was BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the week three times this season (8/21, 9/4, 10/29).
Maddie Reed, a senior defender from Louisville, Ky., was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after making all 10 starts on the Xavier backline in conference play, playing all but six minutes a defense that allowed just two goals in BIG EAST action.
Overall, Reed has started in all 19 matches, playing over 1670 minutes for a Xavier defense that has only allowed eight goals on the season, with a team GAA of 0.421 overall, which leads the BIG EAST and is sixth in NCAA DI. The Musketeers have a BIG EAST-best 12 shutouts, with a shutout percentage of 0.632 to lead the conference and rank 10th in the country.
In BIG EAST play, the Musketeer defense posted a team GAA of 0.20 to lead the conference. Xavier has eight shutouts in 10 conference matches, not allowing a goal in the last six games of the regular season.
This is Reed's first postseason honor as a Musketeer. She was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 9, 2023.
Ella Rogers, a junior midfielder from Granville, Ohio, earned Second Team honors after a making the start in all 19 matches this season, totaling over 1460 minutes of action for the Musketeers. Offensively, Rogers has four points on the season, scoring the game-winner against Louisville, and collecting a pair of assists.
Rogers has also helped the Xavier defense to a BIG EAST-leading 12 shutouts on the season, including eight in conference play. Xavier's defense only allowed eight goals on the season, with a team GAA of 0.421 overall, which leads the BIG EAST and is sixth in NCAA DI.
Rogers, who was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team, earned all-conference in 2021 as well. Rogers was named the 2021 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year as well Second Team and All-Freshman.
Samantha Wiehe, a junior midfielder from Northfield, Ohio, earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors after leading Xavier with 20 points on the season, with the team-highs in goals (7) and matching Kennedy Clark for team-high with assist (6). Among those seven goals are five game winners, the most in the conference and eight most in NCAA DI.
In BIG EAST play, Wiehe leads Xavier with 10 points, third most in league play, on three goals with four assists, which ranks second in conference play. She knocked in a BIG EAST-leading three game-winners, at DePaul, at UConn and against Marquette.
This is Wiehe's first BIG EAST postseason honor. She also earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Rookie Team in 2021.
Sonia Vargas, a senior forward from Hilliard, Ohio, earned All-BIG EAST Third Team honors after playing in all 19 matches for the Musketeers, making 11 starts, collecting 10 points on four goals and two assists.
Among her goals are two game-winners, including the goal in the last five minutes of Xavier's 1-0 win at Creighton to keep the Musketeers in line for a share of the BIG EAST Championship. Vargas also scored the equalizer in Xavier's 1-1 draw at Seton Hall, helping keep Xavier unbeaten in BIG EAST play.
She finished conference play with six points, on two goals and two assists, trailing only Samantha Wiehe in points in BIG EAST play for the Musketeers.
This is Vargas' second all-conference nomination, also earning BIG EAST All-Freshman Team honors during the 2020 season, which was played in spring 2021.
BIG EAST POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Jr., M
Midfielder of the Year: Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Gr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Julia Leas, Georgetown, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Sr., GK
Freshman of the Year: Norah Jacomen, Butler, Fr., F
Coaching Staff of the Year: Xavier University (Nate Lie, Head Coach)
All-BIG EAST First Team *
Aliya Diagne, Butler, Gr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, So., M
Jessica Mazo, UConn, Gr., M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, So., F
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Gr., GK
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Gr., D
Natalie Means, Georgetown, So., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Jr., M
Meg Hughes, Providence, Sr., F ^
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Gr., M ^
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Jr., M ^
Natalie Bain, Xavier, So., D
All-BIG EAST Second Team *
Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Sr., D
Cara Jordan, UConn, Gr., F
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Sr., GK
Azumi Manriki, Creighton, Jr., M
Brianne Riley, Georgetown, Gr., D
Kayla Briggs, Providence, Fr., F
Avery Snead, Providence, Sr., D
Jackie Richards, Villanova, Gr., F
Maria Galley, Xavier, So., GK
Maddie Reed, Xavier, Sr., D
Ella Rogers, Xavier, Jr., M
Samantha Wiehe, Xavier, Jr., M
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., M
Norah Jacomen, Butler, Fr., F
Abbey Jones, UConn, Jr., M
Peighton Steffen, Creighton, Sr., D
Ellie Mink, DePaul, Sixth Yr., M
Allie Winstanley, Georgetown, Sr., F
Emma Bodmer, Providence, Sr., GK
Gillian Kenney, Providence, Jr., F/M
Chiara Pucci, Seton Hall, Jr., D
Makayla Stadler, Villanova, Gr., F/D
Sonia Vargas, Xavier, Sr., F
Among Xavier's honorees are Natalie Bain, who earned First Team honors. Maria Galley, Maddie Reed, Ella Rogers and Samantha Wiehe were named to the Second Team, while Sonia Vargas earned Third Team All-BIG EAST.
Head coach Nate Lie's coaching staff, including associate head coaches Katy Etelman and Tyler Smaha, director of goalkeeping Jacob Morrison, director of player performance Matt Tennyson, and athletic trainer Jordan Johnson, led Xavier to a share BIG EAST regular season title, wrapping up a second-straight unbeaten regular season conference slate at 6-0-4.With the title, the program's second in the last three years, the Musketeers, who were picked No. 2 in the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches Poll, enter the league tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Musketeers enter the post season at 13-2-4 overall, and have spent most of the 2023 season ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll, currently ranking No. 17.
Xavier currently stands at No. 22 in the RPI and came in at No. 13 in the NCAA Soccer Committee's Top 16 Midseason Ranking, looking for a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Championship.
Natalie Bain, a sophomore defender from Alexandria, Ky., was named to the First Team after playing a team-high 897 minutes on the Xavier back line in conference play, making all 10 starts and playing all but three minutes of BIG EAST action as the Musketeers posted an unbeaten record in conference play.
Overall, Bain has appeared in 17 matches, starting in each, totaling 1480 minutes for the Xavier defense which only allowed eight goals on the season. The Musketeers enter the postseason with a team GAA of 0.421 for the season, best in the BIG EAST and sixth in NCAA DI. The Musketeers lead the BIG EAST with 12 shutouts, with a shutout percentage of 0.632 to lead the conference, ranking 10th in the country.
In BIG EAST play, the Musketeer defense has only allowed two goals, posting a team GAA of 0.20, both marks that lead the conference. Xavier has eight shutouts in 10 conference matches, including picking up clean sheets in the last six games of the regular season.
This is Bain's second All-Conference nomination of her career, earning All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-Freshman honors in 2022. She was also selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST squad. Bain was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (9/25, 10/23).
Maria Galley, a sophomore goalkeeper from South Windsor, Conn., earned Second Team honors after posting a goals against average of 0.43 overall, which ranks sixth in NCAA DI. In BIG EAST matches, Galley has a GAA of 0.20, the best mark in the conference after only allowing two goals in 10 BIG EAST matches.Galley has 11 complete shutouts on the season, as well as a part of a combined shutout. The 11 clean sheets, which matches the school record for a single season, are the most in the BIG EAST and third most in NCAA DI. She has seven shutouts in BIG EAST play, leading the conference.
This is Galley's second time earning All-BIG EAST Second Team, also earning the honor as a freshman, as well as a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Galley was BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the week three times this season (8/21, 9/4, 10/29).
Maddie Reed, a senior defender from Louisville, Ky., was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after making all 10 starts on the Xavier backline in conference play, playing all but six minutes a defense that allowed just two goals in BIG EAST action.Overall, Reed has started in all 19 matches, playing over 1670 minutes for a Xavier defense that has only allowed eight goals on the season, with a team GAA of 0.421 overall, which leads the BIG EAST and is sixth in NCAA DI. The Musketeers have a BIG EAST-best 12 shutouts, with a shutout percentage of 0.632 to lead the conference and rank 10th in the country.
In BIG EAST play, the Musketeer defense posted a team GAA of 0.20 to lead the conference. Xavier has eight shutouts in 10 conference matches, not allowing a goal in the last six games of the regular season.
This is Reed's first postseason honor as a Musketeer. She was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 9, 2023.
Ella Rogers, a junior midfielder from Granville, Ohio, earned Second Team honors after a making the start in all 19 matches this season, totaling over 1460 minutes of action for the Musketeers. Offensively, Rogers has four points on the season, scoring the game-winner against Louisville, and collecting a pair of assists.Rogers has also helped the Xavier defense to a BIG EAST-leading 12 shutouts on the season, including eight in conference play. Xavier's defense only allowed eight goals on the season, with a team GAA of 0.421 overall, which leads the BIG EAST and is sixth in NCAA DI.
Rogers, who was selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team, earned all-conference in 2021 as well. Rogers was named the 2021 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year as well Second Team and All-Freshman.
Samantha Wiehe, a junior midfielder from Northfield, Ohio, earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors after leading Xavier with 20 points on the season, with the team-highs in goals (7) and matching Kennedy Clark for team-high with assist (6). Among those seven goals are five game winners, the most in the conference and eight most in NCAA DI.In BIG EAST play, Wiehe leads Xavier with 10 points, third most in league play, on three goals with four assists, which ranks second in conference play. She knocked in a BIG EAST-leading three game-winners, at DePaul, at UConn and against Marquette.
This is Wiehe's first BIG EAST postseason honor. She also earned a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Conference Rookie Team in 2021.
Sonia Vargas, a senior forward from Hilliard, Ohio, earned All-BIG EAST Third Team honors after playing in all 19 matches for the Musketeers, making 11 starts, collecting 10 points on four goals and two assists.Among her goals are two game-winners, including the goal in the last five minutes of Xavier's 1-0 win at Creighton to keep the Musketeers in line for a share of the BIG EAST Championship. Vargas also scored the equalizer in Xavier's 1-1 draw at Seton Hall, helping keep Xavier unbeaten in BIG EAST play.
She finished conference play with six points, on two goals and two assists, trailing only Samantha Wiehe in points in BIG EAST play for the Musketeers.
This is Vargas' second all-conference nomination, also earning BIG EAST All-Freshman Team honors during the 2020 season, which was played in spring 2021.
BIG EAST POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Jr., M
Midfielder of the Year: Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Gr., M
Defensive Player of the Year: Julia Leas, Georgetown, Gr., D
Goalkeeper of the Year: Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Sr., GK
Freshman of the Year: Norah Jacomen, Butler, Fr., F
Coaching Staff of the Year: Xavier University (Nate Lie, Head Coach)
All-BIG EAST First Team *
Aliya Diagne, Butler, Gr., D
Talia Sommer, Butler, So., M
Jessica Mazo, UConn, Gr., M
Chioma Okafor, UConn, So., F
Allie Augur, Georgetown, Gr., GK
Julia Leas, Georgetown, Gr., D
Natalie Means, Georgetown, So., F
Eliza Turner, Georgetown, Jr., M
Meg Hughes, Providence, Sr., F ^
Jessica Garziano, St. John's, Gr., M ^
Natalie Tavana, Seton Hall, Jr., M ^
Natalie Bain, Xavier, So., D
All-BIG EAST Second Team *
Lucy Cappadona, UConn, Sr., D
Cara Jordan, UConn, Gr., F
Kaitlyn Mahoney, UConn, Sr., GK
Azumi Manriki, Creighton, Jr., M
Brianne Riley, Georgetown, Gr., D
Kayla Briggs, Providence, Fr., F
Avery Snead, Providence, Sr., D
Jackie Richards, Villanova, Gr., F
Maria Galley, Xavier, So., GK
Maddie Reed, Xavier, Sr., D
Ella Rogers, Xavier, Jr., M
Samantha Wiehe, Xavier, Jr., M
All-BIG EAST Third Team
Abby Isger, Butler, R-Sr., M
Norah Jacomen, Butler, Fr., F
Abbey Jones, UConn, Jr., M
Peighton Steffen, Creighton, Sr., D
Ellie Mink, DePaul, Sixth Yr., M
Allie Winstanley, Georgetown, Sr., F
Emma Bodmer, Providence, Sr., GK
Gillian Kenney, Providence, Jr., F/M
Chiara Pucci, Seton Hall, Jr., D
Makayla Stadler, Villanova, Gr., F/D
Sonia Vargas, Xavier, Sr., F
Players Mentioned
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